Todays parable is in all
probability a doubling of last weeks parable. Matthew found both of them
in the tradition with which he was working. They were sufficiently different for him to
include bothin his Gospel. See last weeks
background for an explanation.The Mustard
Seed story is an addition in this version. It turns out to be an accurate prediction.
Sociologist Rodney Stark in a recent study argues that there were only a thousand
Christians at the end of the first century, six million at the beginning of the third and
thirty million(half the Roman empire) by 350. Constantines conversion, he suggests was
a result of the growth of Christianity, not its cause.

Once upon a time there was an
eighth grade football team that inherited a tradition of losing almost all the games of a
season. The other parishes in the league provided uniforms, a coaching staff, even summer
training. The kids from St. Useless didnt have a coach or uniforms or much parental
support. They were a ragtag band of talented but untrained kids. Then one day a young man
watched them stumble through practice. Can I help? he asked them. The team was ready to
accept help from anyone. You guys are the best he said. Theres no reason you cant
win the conference. But you have to practice, be confident of yourself, and be good
friends. No more fighting among the team or with me if Im going to be your
unofficial coach. The kids agreed. The first thing the coach taught them was how be
friends and play together with one another. Then he told them practice after practice how
good they were. Finally he made them work, work, work. You know what happened. They went
undefeated won the conference. He made us believe in ourselves. The kids said. The next
year the parents hired a real coach and the team finished last.